Regions of knowledge - call for proposals
The European Commission's Research DG has published a call for proposals for the 'Regions of Knowledge' pilot action. The main aim of the action is to demonstrate the central role of knowledge in driving regional development, and to show how regional actors can effectively participate in formulating their region's future. This should lead to blueprints and models for further activities, which need not necessarily be funded by the Union's budget. In addition, the objective is to catalyse collaboration on a transnational / transregional basis so as to enable common learning by Europe's regions and the identification of models and activities that can be implemented in different regions. The following areas will be supported under the pilot action: -- Integrated regional technology initiatives These should focus on integrated actions at regional level, involving cooperation between local actors that are affected by the creation, uptake or diffusion of knowledge stimulating local or regional development. They should be structured around institutions (public or private) that can be identified as knowledge creators or knowledge users, working in partnership. The following types of activity are envisaged under integrated regional technology initiatives: - Technology audits and regional foresight - focusing on analysis of the regional economy and technology fabric, and identification of future development scenarios based on the knowledge based society and economy. The involvement of several regions in a given project is expected to provide a broad view of the diverse development of situations across the EU. - University driven actions for regional development - focusing on demonstrating how universities (and assimilated higher education institutions) can play significant roles in local and regional economies by providing expertise, performing an advisory role for local companies or public institutions, or stimulating technology creation and uptake by creating spin-off companies, and incubators, in a transregional, transnational mode. - Mentoring initiatives - focusing on networking between technologically advanced and less favoured regions (Objective 1 regions) and providing knowledge and experience sharing for technology based regional development. Many European regions lagging in development have seen in the past an increased investment from the Structural Funds (coupled with national funds, public and private) in research and technology schemes. As it is thought that the critical factor for development is the appropriation of a structured regional innovation strategy, it is expected that technologically advanced regions may provide good models and advice to less favoured regions by 'walking them through' using mentoring initiatives for technology based regional development. -- Supporting activities These may take the form of workshops or conferences promoting the idea of technology based regional development or raising awareness of the importance of Knowledge as a driving factor for local and regional development. These proposals need also to be made in a transnational, transregional context. The budget for this call is 2.5 million euro, and the Commission expects to fund around ten proposals.To see the full call text, please visit: http://cordis.europa.eu/era/knowreg.htm